by Pastor Cecil | Jun 17, 2014 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 5:5-6
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
It has been a long time since I first took my driving test, was given a driver’s license, and was able to operate my dad’s car. It was always a mystery to me why he was so ashen faced and somber when the keys were placed into my youthful hands and I rocketed out to the car and backed carefully out of the driveway.
I discovered the reason for his terrified appearance when my own kids applied for their first driver’s license and waited eagerly for my shaking hands to deliver the car keys into their all too eager hands. Ah, the passage of time has a way of bringing around memories of the past—some good, some terrifying.
Our eagerness to be the one to operate a motor vehicle is an object lesson to teach us about our spiritual life —WE WANT TO DRIVE! We may not be qualified or adequately aware of the hazards which may lie up ahead, but we still want to take control.
The Apostle Peter tells the young men of the world to demonstrate humility. While this is a quality that is greatly prized by writers of Scripture, unfortunately it is not esteemed in our society. We are more prone to see strutting, swaggering, bragging, and disdain by many young people who are disrespectful of their elders.
I hope you caught the words in this passage, “. . . In the same way.” Immediately we should ask ourselves the question, “In the same way – what?” Peter has just been admonishing the elders to come under the authority of the Lord — serving in humility to Christ.
This strong, carnal desire to be our own master is contrary to God’s pattern for His people. We are told to be gentle and humble before Him and with others. In the Old Testament book of Micah, we find this same pattern established. It tells us that, from the very beginning, God has desired a yielded and humble people. Look what it says in chapter 6, verse 8: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
That, my dear friend, is cutting to the bottom line. If you really and truly desire to find peace with God, and harmony with those around you, do things God’s way. These words in Micah are words of instruction for the daily walk of the believer.
So you want to drive, do you? If you insist, but I want to warn you of the dangers you face. The way is far too treacherous for us to do the driving. Our inexperience can only lead to disaster. It is so much better to let the One who knows the way control the wheel of our life.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 16, 2014 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
It seems like the older I get the more I recall the silly things I did as a child. It is almost as if God has parted the curtains of my life and allowed me to see things that the stuff of life has hidden. I wonder if our prayer life also has a “childish” nature.
We want God to do for us what He has commanded us to do. When God speaks, He does not revise His demands for our obedience. Thank God that He remains the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We, on the other hand, we are prone to stray one way or the other.
As I read the Scripture for today, I see several things. First of all, I notice that God does bring devastation on the land. Certainly the reason is because of the sin of the people, but it is also to draw His people back to Him. We like to pray the last part of this passage without regard to the first part.
We pray for revival without first paying the price. What is the price? We have to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways. I must ask this question: Have we really met those requirements? It is far too easy to ask God to fulfill His part without doing our part. FORGIVE US, LORD!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 13, 2014 | Matthew
Matthew 24:10-13
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Jesus is coming soon! Read Matthew 24 from start to finish and you will see the signs of His coming all around us. One of the prophecies concerning His return concerns the rise of false prophets and even those who claim to be Messiah.
Since 1891, when the blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby wrote this week’s hymn, there have many false leaders who claimed to be the promised Messiah. Each of these charlatans lacked the required proof— the prints of the nails in his hands! Carefully read the words of this old hymn.
My Savior First of All
When my lifework is ended,
and I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see;
I shall know my Redeemer
when I reach the other side,
And His smile will be the first to welcome me.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Oh, the soul-thrilling rapture
when I view His blessed face,
And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;
How my full heart will praise Him
for the mercy, love and grace,
That prepare for me a mansion in the sky.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Oh, the dear ones in glory,
how they beckon me to come,
And our parting at the river I recall;
To the sweet vales of Eden
they will sing my welcome home;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Through the gates to the city
in a robe of spotless white,
He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;
In the glad song of ages
I shall mingle with delight;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
To access My Savior First of All, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/mysaviorfirstofall/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 12, 2014 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 3:11-12
Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Years ago our family delighted in watching the Public Television presentation of a series called All Creatures Great and Small. It followed the exploits of a British country veterinarian in pre-World War II.
I recently purchased the books from which the television series was adapted. Once again I have been fascinated by life in a more simple time. There is one thing that has stood out in reading this semi-authentic history of an actual veterinarian at that time — the refusal to just say NO!
Time after time, the hero of the story, James Herriot, was persuaded to partake of copious amounts of liquor that he really did not wish to drink. The simple reason was that he did not know how to say NO! I find myself wanting to yell at him across the decades of time to learn the secret of walking away in these situations.
Having spent years in police work and the military, I certainly know what it feels like to be pressured into doing things my conscience warns against. I can honestly say that taking a stand to do the right thing has not only saved me heartache, it has been a witness to those around me (even some of those who were enticing me to go against my Christian values). I want to encourage each of us to say YES! to the Lord and NO! to Satan’s temptations.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 11, 2014 | Ephesians
Ephesians 5:18-21
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
I love to sing. There is just one problem — my voice will not cooperate! I know the note, but my vocal chords warble and waffle without allowing the melody I want to sing to come from my throat. Over these many years I have come to realize it is not how well I sing that matters, but that I have the melody of Jesus in my heart.
When I was young we used to sing a chorus that expresses the love for Jesus. Sadly, I can recall people singing the words, but their faces looked like they had just been baptized in vinegar. Here is the first verse and chorus of In My Heart There Rings A Melody:
(1) I have a song that Jesus gave me,
It was sent from heaven above;
There never was a sweeter melody,
‘Tis a melody of love.
Chorus:
In my heart there rings a melody,
There rings a melody with heaven’s harmony;
In my heart there rings a melody;
There rings a melody of love!
The ultimate question for each of us is can we honestly say: “In my heart there rings a melody?” If the answer is YES, then we need to let our face show that joy!
God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
